Time-controlled activated vehicular speed limit signal



l. M. HART Dec. 20, 1960 TIME-CONTROLLED ACTIVATED VEHICULAR SPEED LIMITSIGNAL Original Filed March 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FLASHING INVENTOR.

IRWIN M. HART ATTORNEY I. M. HART Dec. 20, 1960 TIMECONTROLLED ACTIVATEDVEHICULAR SPEED LIMIT SIGNAL Original Filed March 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet2 I I I 1 I\ mw mm mm pm W v -m w\ 5 m h M T MM H mm \m\. imm mm L 8 mpw mm E T L fi E v on Fwy mm INVENTOR.

IRWIN M. HART BY %ATTORNEY United States Patent F .TllVIE-CONTROLLEDACTIVATED VEHICULAR SPEED LIMIT SIGNAL Irwin M. Hart, 314 Missouri Ave.,Lorain, Ohio Original application Mar. 5, 1956, Ser. No. 569,305,

new Patent No. 2,902,672, dated Sept. 1, 1959. Divided and thisapplication Aug. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 836,785

3 Claims. (Cl. 340-81) This invention relates to a novel visible tratficcontrol signal in which a plurality of alternate flashing lightprojecting and directing signals are combined with a legendbearing sign.This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No.569,305, filed March 5, 1956, now Patent No. 2,902,672.

The signs are of the general class known as automatic activatedalternating flasher signals for speed limit or stop sign purposes. Forexample, activated flasher signals for controlling vehicle speed limitsin school zones are particularly important, and obviously urgentlyneeded for the protection of school children, and likewise may be usedfor other institutions, particularly where the need for speed control orstopping during certain limited periods of time or danger hours ispresent.

Some motorists who have become aware of the unreasonably low speedindicated by the signal, when not needed, fail to heed the signs andreduce their speed at times of day when extra caution is required.

It follows that the signal constituting the combination of the presentinvention, which includes a time switch controlling mechanism renderingthe sign activated to give the alternating flashing warning signals onlyfor short times covering the danger periods, relieves the unnecessaryburden on the motorist, and assures obedience to the sign because itquickly becomes recognized that these signs do not imposed unwarrantedrestrictions when they are not necessary.

An object of the invention is to utilize a plurality, preferably a pair,of spaced flasher light signals, each having a power and eifectivenesscomparable to a trafiic signal and mounted with a sign plate bearing thedesired legend indicating the required reduced speed limit. Thus, inaddition to the sign plate bearing a legend indicating a school zone andspeed limit, I have provided an effective attention-attracting warningsignal which is normally inconspicuous but which becomes strikinglyvisible when actuated during the danger periods.

An advantage of attaining this objective by the combination comprisingmy present invention is that the sign may be relatively inconspicuouswhen not in operation.

More specific objects are to so construct such a combination that it maybe weather-resistant, easy to service, with parts replaceable on the jobor at the signal location, and which may be fully power-actuated.

A still more specific object includes simplicity and cheapness ofmanufacture, durability, and reliability in use.

While providing for a number of periods, say three each day for a schooloperation, the time control mechanism may be idle on Saturdays andSundays. Likewise, my signal unit may obviously be inactive andrelatively inconspicuous during vacations and during seasons when notneeded.

The time-controlling device of my signal may be so regulated as topermit continuous operation, which may be very advantageous foremergencies, as, for example,

Patented Dec. 20, 1960 temporary installation, for bridge failure, roadconstruction, etc.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred form of my invention,it being understood that modifications may be made corresponding to theteachings hereof.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a preferredembodiment of my invention in which the upper and lower cabinetscontaining the flasher signals are spaced apart and connected by atubular support;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the sign plate and flashers shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the form shown in Fig. 1 show ing the rear doorwalls of each box opened to indicate accessibility of instruments,controls, and connections carried thereby; and

Fig. 4 is a composite diagram of the wiring arrangement showing thelines leading to the operating parts and their companion orcorresponding lines leading from them to the feed line.

Describing the structure shown in the drawings, using referencenumerals, a rigid signboard or plate of metal or other suitable material10 may bear the warning sign and informative indicia, such as schoolzone or speed limit.

In the arrangement indicated, an area above the upper flashing signal isprovided for large lettering of the words such as School Zone and SpeedLimit, and the area between the two flasher signals may bear largenumerals printed on the plate 10. Additional wording may appear belowthe lower lens. For example, I have shown the words When Flashing.

-The plate It) is provided with separated openings in which are mountedlenses 12 and 13 secured by suitable clamping rings, from which sunshields 16 and 17 may project outwardly. The lenses 12 and 13 arepreferably provided with light-directing configurations corresponding toWell-known trafiic signal lenses.

The rigid signboard plate 10 is mounted on a composite rigid structurecomprising two vertically spaced apart similar metal box compartments,each preferably having the rear or side wall hinged for access, as forexample was provided for in the housing for the light-controllingmechanism as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,679,- 635, granted May 25,1954.

Behind each lens 12 and 13 is a suitable lamp, which may be of theincandescent lamp-bulb type, indicated at 26 and 27, and each positionedin front of a parabolic reflector 28 and 29. Partitions 30 and 31 mayserve to mount these lamps and reflectors, and to divide thecabinet-like box units 32 and 33 into forward and rear compartments. Thelatter compartments may contain the flasher controlling mechanism andtiming mechanism, all of which may be mounted on the rear hinged walls35 and 36 of the cabinets, as shown in Fig. 3, for convenientaccessibility. The hinged walls preferably are fitted with gaskets torender them weather-tight, and, as shown, are provided with latchingmeans such as indicated at 40, each of which may be provided with alock, if desired.

The two cabinets are rigidly connected together and braced by a tubularmember 38 which may be in the nature of a large diameter pipe sectionwhich may be threaded to fittings secured to the adjacent surfaces ofthe cabinets 32 and 33 so that the pipe is parallel to and spaced fromthe plate 10. Connecting wires from between the clock switch, flashermotor, and other control members may be passed through and be protectedby this pipe section. In the preferred, although not critical,embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the cabinets 32and 33 are substantially cubical. This construction and proportion ofthe cabinets contributes to the Strength of the rigid unitary assemblageformed by the cabinets, the pipe connecting the two cabinets, and thesign plate 10, the unitary assemblage being mountable upon any suitablepost or support.

In Fig. 1 there appears a socket 42 adapted to fit over a post P,serving as the sign support.

In the rear compartment of the upper cabinet or box 32, I may mount aflasher control device, indicated diagrammatically by the rectangle 45,a suitable fuse 46, and a radio interference signal suppressor 48,preventing the arcing energy from interfering with normal reception byadjacent radio and television sets.

In the lower cabinet 33, I prefer to mount the time clock which controlsthe activation of the flasher signals. This clock is indicateddiagrammatically at 50, and is connected, as will presently appear, withthe other component parts by a wiring system which may be arranged inany suitable fashion to accomplish the desired purpose.

For example, in most localities, the danger hours for a school zonebegin at 8:30 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3:00 pm, and for the half-hour ormore following each of these hours, the signs should be activated sothat the flasher signals are illuminated alternately.

An actuating flashing motor or control device is connected to the lights26 and 27, and these controlling and actuating instruments may beconnected by a suitable wiring arrangement constituting a feed from A.C.or DC, as the case may be.

An illustrative wiring arrangement is indicated in the composite diagramof Fig. 4, in which oiiset rectangles 32a and 33a indicate the upper andlower cabinets, respectively. Within the upper cabinet is indicated ablock bearing binding post 55 for suitable line connections, only two ofwhich are there indicated as being used by the lines 56 and 57 of all-volt A.C. circuit.

From the connections on this member 55, a line 58 is shown as leadingfirst to the fuse here indicated at 68, from which the line is continuedat 61 to a terminal of the time clock 50, shown as having atime-controlled switch member 63, which when moved into contact with theconnection 64, passes current through suitable controls, not shown, andfrom which current may pass through the line 70. Line 70 is connected toone of several terminals of a box 76 containing resistance andcondensers, and having connections with the flasher motor, hereindicated at 78, the contacts of which may alternately connect circuitsleading to the lamps 26 and 27. The other terminals of these lamps areconnected through wires 83, shown in the right-hand diagram, with acommon return line 80 to a terminal of the flasher, and thence, asappears in the left-hand portion of the diagram, with the box 76 and itscondensers and connections.

The common return line 80 is also connected, as at 81, with the supplyline connections, While another line, as at 82, leads back from the timeclock control member 64.

The foregoing is not intended to be a complete description of thewiring, but is sufiiciently illustrative to indicate the connectionsnecessary for the operation, which will now be summarized.

Assuming a permanent connection with a supply line, the time clock 50has its main switch armature connection in open or idle positionthroughout the greater part of of each 24 hours, and over holidays andduring vacations, as described. During these periods, of course, thesign is relatively inconspicuous. The warning sign indicating a schoolzone, would of course, be noticed by the alert motorist; however, duringthe periods of day when, for example, school children are exposed tovehicular traffic, the circuit is closed through the time clockactuating the flasher sign alternately illuminating the upper and lowerlamps 26 and 27 under the control of the flasher motor 78.

It is to be understood that the time clock, flasher motor and otherequipment are well known devices, and no specific claim is intended tobe made herein in respect thereto, apart from the novel combination andarrange ment of my signal apparatus.

What is claimed is:

l. A time-controlled actuatable warning and regulatory speed limit signcomprising a stiff sign plate having traffic guiding indicia on itsfront surface, said sign plate being provided with spaced openings, asignal lens mounted in each opening, a rigid box having a front wallconnected to the rear surface of said sign plate behind each of saidopenings, said boxes being substantially cubical with said front wall ofeach box having a hole corresponding to and communicating with thecontiguous opening in said sign plate, each of said boxes having ahinged rear wall, a rigid pipe connected between said boxes, said pipebeing axially parallel to said sign plate and rearwardly spacedtherefrom whereby said pipe, sign plate and boxes form a rigid unitaryassemblage adapted to be rested on and secured to the upper end of arigid support, a light in each box near said hole for illuminating theadjacent lens, an actuating flashing motor and a time clock in circuitrelation with said lights for actuating said lights at predeterminedintervals, said flashing motor and said time clock being enclosed inseparate boxes and being mounted on said hinged rear walls forconvenient accessibility when said hinged walls are swung outwardly, andelectrical circuit connections between said flashing motor and said timeclock passing through said pipe.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 in which said openings in saidsign plate are two in number and are vertically'spaced, and in whichsaid pipe is connected to the bottom wall of the upper box and to theupper wall of the lower box, said lower box having a socket mounted onits bottom wall for receiving and suportingly connecting said rigidunitary assemblage on the upper end of a support.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the two boxes isdivided into two compartments by a vertical partition positioned behindthe light, and a parabolic reflector mounted on the partition in eachbox.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,805,847 Reetz May 19, 1931 2,553,906 Ferguson May 22, 1951 2,679,635Hart May 25, 1954 2,797,400 Schumacher June 25, 1957 2,850,717 WiswellSept. 8, 1958 2,902,672 Hart Sept. 1, 1959

